2009 Sensor Based Nitrogen
Management Conference
Jack Gerhardt
GreenSeeker Representative
507.236.1144
Breaking News
 Corn Producers achieve 100% Nitrogen Use
Efficiency!
 Source: National Corn Growers Association
– Hypoxia in the Gulf: An Analytical White Paper
– June 2009
– “The amount of N fertilizer applied to corn acres is
equal to the amount of N in the removed grain”
 Let’s all go home and update our resumes
Agenda
 Trimble Acquisition of NTech
 GreenSeeker Product Developments
 Field Observations
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Sensor Based N Algorithms
Nitrogen Rich Strips
Sensor Adoption
State of Conventional N Management
 Case Study: Dutch Creek Farms
Trimble Acquisition
 NTech acquired in June of 2009
 Goal: Position Trimble as The Leader in Precision Ag
– Expands product capabilities
– Integrate sensing technology
– Leverage Trimble market power to accelerate GS/WS adoption
 Consistent with recent acquisitions of:
– Rawson Controls
– TruCount Clutches
– FarmWorks Software
 Since 2004, Trimble Ag has evolved from a navigation
company to a major force in Precision Ag
Key Trimble Offerings
 FMX
– 12.1” touch screen controller
with 2 integrated GPS receivers
– Planting/Application/Harvesting
– Auto Steer / Implement Steering
– Field Leveling / Water Mgt
– Information Management
 EZ Guide 250 and 500
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Lightbar
Auto steer
Flat or VR application control
Mapping
New GreenSeeker Developments
 RT Commander Pro
– 2007: Envisioned the need to consider historic
information with real time rate decisions
– RTC Pro is the first software to simultaneously
access historic and real time information
– Override, Enhance or Restrict real time algorithmbased rates based on zone delineation.
– Applicable for:
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VR planting populations
Center pivot field corners
Extreme soil or topographical variance
Any desired zone delineation (yield, Veris, etc)
®
GreenSeeker RT Commander Pro
When setting up a job,
RT Commander Pro
includes a background
prescription map option.
Completely override the algorithm
in selected areas, or
Multiply the algorithm values
to increase or decrease the
recommended rate
®
GreenSeeker Background Map
The pre determined
management zones
appear on the monitor as
a background map.
The target rate applies outside the
bounded areas, but is replaced by
the over-ride prescription value (80)
in the example above.
2009 GreenSeeker Algorithms
 Industry leader in Supported Nitrogen
Algorithms (19 total, 10 crops)
– Ag & Agri-Foods Canada-Oats, Barley, Durum,
Canola (updates)
– Missouri-cotton
– More Pending
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NE U.S. wheat, corn
SE U.S. cotton, corn
KSU corn
Global work in corn, wheat, sugar cane, rice
RT Commander v1.3.9 (pending)
 Featuring multi-language software to facilitate
international adoption
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Spanish
German
Dutch
French
Access up to 26 different languages
RT150 Mapping Only System
Entry Level 3 Sensor Mapping Offering
Fully Upgradeable to VR Capabilities
Where do we go from here?
 Broader Controller Compatibility
– GreenSeeker is Inclusive Technology-not
exclusive. This is a barrier to adoption.
 Sensor integration through ISO BUS
development & standardization
– Simplifies controller and user interface
 Boom Section Control
– “Accuracy is Addictive”
Feedback from the Field
 University/Researcher Algorithms:
– Add credibility, but Farmer’s are skeptical
– Viewed as a guide or compared to their N program
– See GreenSeeker as a tool to improve “their own”
nitrogen strategy via custom Rx option
– Prefer local or regional algorithms
 Universal Algorithm must allow for customization
– Algorithms are often “tweaked” to achieve
acceptable rates
Nitrogen Rich Strips
 Stop apologizing for Nitrogen Rich Strips!
 They should be considered a BMP with or
without sensor technology
 Virtual Reference Strips do nothing to
advance NUE
– Just because you identify a peak value does not
mean it is sufficient in N, or is representative of
maximum seasonal yield potential
– Still requires many passes to find “peak” value
– Best fit for VRS is nitrogen rescue situations
Adoption Rates
 We’re changing Nitrogen practices; not making
farmers better at what they are already doing
– Side dress is too often a minority practice
– Late stage crop N assessment is bothersome
 Sensing requires a cultural change:
– “Grandpa didn’t do it like this”
 Best adoption model: No Till/Strip Till
 Expect slow steady growth, unless:
– New regulations drive adoption
– Economics shift to incent adoption
– Competition enters the market
Welcome AgLeader & TopCon
 If we are going to change the NUE world, it
will take many voices.
Revisiting the N Problem
 Overriding N Fertilizer Mentality
– Every year has homerun yield potential.
– Weather conditions have little influence on the
nitrogen rate decision.
– Crop Advisors don’t take the time to account for
mineralization in the total N supply
– One pass N is easy and usually works well
– “More (N) Is Better”
 So what do we get…
Blind Excess
200
180
160
140
120
Iowa:
“Maximum
Realized
Yield”
Trend Line
(Yield Goal)
100
Actual
Realized
Yield
80
60
Should we fertilize for
maximum realized trend
line yield every year?
40
20
0
1940
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
Source: Elwyn Taylor ISU Meteorologist
2010
2020
What can change this mentality?
 Economics:
– The high N prices of 2008 forced producers to
collectively think about their N rates for the first
time in years.
– Farmers are trained to wait for economic incentives
like EQIP before they act—this can actually delay
adoption while they wait for a program & funding.
– Since researchers acknowledge that mineralization
exists, more of them could start considering it in
their N rate recommendation, or we could….
– Demonstrate that even in with today’s economics,
there are large returns to capture.
Case Study (In Progress):
Dutch Creek Farms
 Early GreenSeeker Adopter-2005
 Views change as opportunity for short term
competitive advantage
 Recognized for outstanding environmental
stewardship relating to farming practices
Corn Production Program
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North Central Iowa
3rd year corn on corn
Strip Till
3 Pass Nitrogen Plan
– Fall Strip Till NPK (manure):
– Early side dress v2-v4:
– V10+ GreenSeeker side dress:
95 lbs
38 lbs
?
Fall Strip Till: Hog Manure 95 lbs N
Planting into Strips with No Till Planter
v2-v4 Flat Rate Side Dress: 38 lbs
Evaluating Corn at v10-v12
Late Season Sensing v10-v12
ISU Calculator corn on corn rate: 181 lbs
Decision: Do Nothing
Farmer Practice 133 lbs N
*95 lbs Fall Strip Till Manure
*38 lbs v3 UAN side dress
NDVI = .801
N Rich Strip 200 lbs N
*95 lbs Fall Strip Manure
*105 lbs v3 UAN side dress
NDVI = .795
Lessons
 Grower practiced BMP’s with respect to N
Timing, Placement and Product
 Without the right tools (NRS & sensors),
grower may have unnecessarily applied an
additional 46+ lbs of N
 Sometimes you get paid to do nothing
 Anticipated Savings:
– 46 lbs x $.35 x 3900 acres = $62,790
– $4 /ac application x 3900 acres = $15,600
– Total avoided cost: $78,390
Sensor Impact on NUE
 If he harvests 180 bpa corn:
– GreenSeeker NUE = .75
– ISU Calculator NUE = 1.0
– NDVI estimated yield potential: 209 bpa (.636 NUE)
 That’s 179,400 lbs of N that didn’t go down
the river….and that’s just one operation.
Thank You